Temperature regulator of storage battery and vehicle including the same

ABSTRACT

A temperature regulator efficiently regulates a temperature of a storage battery. The regulator includes a thermoelectric transducer having a first face and a second face. The first face is thermally coupled with one or plural storage batteries, and the second face is thermally coupled with a thermal action accelerating medium that accelerates thermal action on the second face. The first face and the second face do the two jobs contradictory to each other, i.e., heat dissipation and heat absorption, responsive to a polarity in exciting the battery. This structure allows the temperature regulator to cool down and warm up the storage battery.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a temperature regulator of astorage battery and a vehicle including the same temperature regulator.More particularly it relates to a temperature regulator of a storagebattery suitable for vehicles such as an electric car and a hybrid car,and also relates to a vehicle including the same temperature regulator.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] Electric cars and hybrid cars have been commercialized, in whicha drive-motor and a storage battery for driving the drive-motor aremounted to those cars. The hybrid car, in particular, fits to modernlife and draws market attention.

[0003]FIG. 8 shows a driving system of a hybrid car available in themarket. An engine, a drive-generator and an air-conditioning compressorare mounted in the car. The engine drives both of the compressor anddrive-wheels. A control system includes a control unit (ECU), a DC/DCconverter and an inverter. A storage battery of 36V is mounted fordriving the drive-generator, and a storage battery of 12V is mounted fordriving the control system and a starter. Both of the storage batteriesare in the same size and mounted in a trunk (boot). The generatorgenerates electricity and charges both the batteries while the car runs,i.e., prepares for further use, namely, discharging. When the 36Vstorage battery drives the generator, a transmission of the engine isset at a neutral position.

[0004] Meanwhile, a car employed a storage battery of 6V at first, thenreplaced it with 12V one, and now is going to employ a 42V battery thatguarantees 36V as discussed above. The battery drives not only agenerator but also an air-conditioning compressor, and a further use ofstorage batteries can be expected.

[0005] The storage battery, as discussed above, is charged while theengine is driven, so that it can be used as long as possible. However,self-heating of the battery shortens its expected service-life. Theself-heating is generated by a chemical reaction in charging anddischarging. When a temperature rises, dilute sulfuric acid gas runsaway, which erodes the electrodes, so that the service life of thebattery is shortened. The battery sometimes discharges several kilowattsat 36V, namely, 200-250 A. Thus, if a temperature of the battery risesby more than 10° C. from an operating temperature ranging from 50 to 60°C., the service life is reduced to one half.

[0006] In order to overcome such a problem, Japanese Patent ApplicationNon-Examined Publication No. H09-289701 discloses that a lithium-ionbattery employs a method of reducing discharging-power step by step intwo steps.

[0007] In the case of a lead-acid battery, charge/discharge iscontrolled so that off-charge and off-discharge can be done in two stepswithin a temperature-range from 60 to 70° C. for overcoming the problemdiscussed above. Charge/discharge is desirably thus controlled in anearly stage, otherwise, a thermal runaway occurs and a temperature ofthe battery rises instantaneously to as high as 80-90° C.

[0008] In the case of a nickel metal hydride battery, Japanese PatentApplication Non-Examined Publication No. H10-270095 discloses anair-cooling apparatus including a fan, for instance. Various methods ofproviding an air-cooling path are proposed in order to cool the batteryeffectively.

[0009] However, those discharge restricting methods discussed aboveforce the users to use the battery only in a short period due to thetemperature rise of the battery, and the battery needs a long time forrecovery. Thus a hybrid car employing one of those method cannot fullyenjoy the advantages of the hybrid. In other words, the car runs withgasoline rather than with the batteries. Thus a ratio of battery-drivingvs. gasoline-driving is desirably increased.

[0010] In the case of air-cooling used with the nickel metal hydridebattery, the battery is still protectively controlled, and coolingeffect needs improvement for increasing the ratio of battery-driving.

[0011] The lead-acid battery functions even at a temperature rangingfrom as low as −5 to −30° C., although its performance lowers by 20-30%.On the other hand, the nickel metal hydride battery and the lithium-ionbattery cannot work properly at a low temperature, thus they need to bewarmed up. However, a conventional temperature regulating technique forwarming up cannot deal with a severe low temperature in cold areas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] A temperature regulator that regulates a temperature of a storagebattery includes a thermoelectric transducer such as thermoelectricmodule or a thermoelectric chip that has the same characteristics as thethermoelectric transducer. The transducer does two jobs contradictory toeach other, i.e., dissipating and absorbing heat using its first andsecond faces responsive to a polarity in exciting the battery. The firstface is thermally coupled with the storage battery, and the second faceis thermally coupled with a thermal-action accelerating medium whichaccelerates a thermal action on the second face.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a thermoelectric transducer of atemperature regulator coupled to a storage battery in accordance withall the exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

[0014]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a temperature regulator of a storagebattery in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the regulator, shown in FIG. 2,installed in a car.

[0016]FIG. 4 is a perspective rear view of a car where the regulator inaccordance with a second embodiment of the present invention isinstalled.

[0017]FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a temperature regulator inaccordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the regulator, shown in FIG. 5,installed in a car.

[0019]FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a temperature regulator of a storagebattery in accordance with a fourth embodiment.

[0020]FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a driving system and a controlsystem of a hybrid car.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0021] Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are demonstratedwith reference to the accompanying drawings. Elements similar to thosein the respective embodiments have the same reference marks.

[0022] Exemplary Embodiment 1

[0023] A temperature regulator of a storage battery in accordance withthe first embodiment includes thermoelectric transducer 3 that does twojobs contradictory to each other, i.e., dissipating and absorbing heatusing its first face 1 and second face 2. In this first embodiment,thermoelectric module 7 is used in thermoelectric transducer 3, andemploys a Peltier element. In the Peltier element, P-type semiconductorsand N-type semiconductors are thermally arranged in parallel, butelectrically connected in series. When a current runs through thePeltier element, heat-absorption and heat-dissipation occur on therespective faces due to Peltier effect. This Peltier element is disposedbetween heat-transferring and insulating plates 5, 6 made of ceramic,and then those elements are sealed and integrated by encapsulatingmaterial made of resin. Heat-transferring plates 5 and 6 form first face1 and second face 2 of thermoelectric module 7.

[0024] In order to regulate a temperature of a storage battery, firstface 1 of transducer 3 is thermally coupled to a single storage battery8A or a plurality of storage batteries 8A, 8B, and second face 2 isthermally coupled to thermal-action accelerating medium 4. In thisembodiment, storage battery 8A of 36V for driving a driving system ofhybrid car 11 and storage battery 8B of 12V for driving a control systemare used, and the temperature regulator simultaneously regulates thetemperatures of both the batteries. In FIG. 1, first face 1 and secondface 2 dissipates and absorbs heat respectively responsive to a polarityin exciting battery 8B, so that batteries 8A, 8B and thermal-actionaccelerating medium 5 are warmed up or cooled down forcibly. Meanwhile,batteries 8A, 8B are represented by battery 8 hereinafter for making adescription simple.

[0025] This structure allows first face 1 to forcibly cool down battery8 when a polarity is set for heat absorption, thereby regulating atemperature of battery 8 not to exceed a predetermined temperature. Alsothis structure allows second face 2 to accelerate heat dissipationbetween medium 4 and second face 2, thereby enhancing the coolingcapacity of face 1 with respect to battery 8. As such, the temperatureregulator cools down battery 8 more efficiently and sufficiently than aconventional air cooling method. Thus a ratio of battery-driving vs.gasoline-driving increases, and the battery-driving can be used forlonger hours, and yet a service life of battery 8 is prolonged. This isparticularly advantageous to battery 8A that outputs a greater power.

[0026] On the other hand, first face 1 forcibly warms up battery 8 whena polarity is set for heat dissipation, thereby regulating a temperatureof battery 8 not to fall below a predetermined temperature. Also secondface 2 accelerates heat adsorption between medium 4 and second face 2,thereby enhancing the warming-up capacity of face 1 with respect tobattery 8. As such, the temperature regulator warms up battery 8 moreefficiently and sufficiently, so that the temperature regulator canprevent battery 8 from degrading performance in a low temperatureenvironment of a cold area, and prolong the battery-driving hours.

[0027] As discussed above, battery 8 and thermoelectric transducer 3 aresuitable for hybrid car 11 and an electric car. They can be alsoemployed with a similar advantage in various vehicles that are driven bya motor, and other mobile objects such as airplanes, submarines, andspaceships. The temperature regulator is applicable to storage batteriesmounted to objects other than cars and vehicles.

[0028] Next, a housing that accommodates a thermoelectric transducer andthe storage batteries related to the temperature regulator in accordancewith the first embodiment is demonstrated hereinafter. As shown in FIG.2, battery 8 is housed in housing 12, so that heat-flow between battery8 and surrounding is restricted. Heat-flow due to the temperatureregulation is realized in a predetermined path which runs through asection thermally coupled between thermoelectric transducer 3 and firstface 1. A temperature of battery 8 can be thus regulated as perinstruction without being affected by the surroundings. Unnecessaryheat-travel to/from the surroundings and troubles due to thisunnecessary heat-flow can be prevented. In this sense, housing 12 ispreferably made of heat insulating material such as a panel or a sheetin which foamed resin, glass-wool, or another heat insulating materialis filled, or a vacuum panel or a vacuum sheet. Housing 12 preferablyaccommodates the batteries in a replaceable manner, so that housing 12can be used repeatedly. Housing 12 preferably has a structure suitablefor battery 8 to be thermally coupled with first face 1 of transducer 3.

[0029] Based on the preferable structure discussed above, housing 12comprises hard case 12A and lid 12B which opens or closes hard case 12A.Lid 12B is hinged to a border of case 12A with hinge 12C so that lid 12Bcan rotate on hinge 12C for opening/closing hard case 12A. Handle 12D isprovided to lid 12B for opening/closing. Sealing member 13 is providedbetween case 12A and lid 12B, so that heat is prevented from travelingfrom case 12A to the outside and vice versa. In order to positively sealcase 12A, means for locking lid 12B is preferably prepared; however, amethod of opening/closing case 12A is not limited to the methoddiscussed above, and lid 12B can be detachable.

[0030] Next, the thermal coupling of the storage battery with thethermoelectric transducer of the temperature regulator in accordancewith the first embodiment is demonstrated. First face 1 of transducer 3is mounted on a bottom of case 12A with face 1 facing upward, so that anaccommodation of battery 8 into case 12A thermally couples battery 8with first face 1 of transducer 3. In this case, both the elementsdirectly couple with each other. However, as shown in FIG. 1, metalplate 14 made of good conductive material such as copper or aluminum isbrought into contact with the surface of battery 8, so that both theelements are thermally coupled via metal plate 14. Metal plate 14 isprovided along an inner wall of case 12A, and the accommodation ofbattery 8 brings a lower face of battery 8 into contact with metal plate14. Some clearance is provided around battery 8 for replacing battery 8with ease. This structure allows first face 1 to move efficiently theheat to a spacious face of battery 8 although face 1 is smaller than thesurface area of battery 8, so that efficiency of cooling down or warmingup increases. Metal plate 14 that surrounds battery 8 with someclearance accelerates heat-flow between first face 1 of transducer 3 andbattery 8. If the clearance is eliminated, the efficiency of coolingdown or warming up further increases. Therefore, an enough free space isprovided between an upper portion of surrounding wall made of metalplate 14 and battery 8 for accommodating battery 8 with ease into case12A, and the lower portion of the surrounding wall closely faces to oreven contacts with battery 8. This structure allows both of efficientheat-flow and practicality to be compatible with each other.

[0031] Case 12A can have an opening in any direction for accommodatingbattery 8, and transducer 3 can be mounted on any place such as a sideof housing 12. The opening can be provided to lid 12B.

[0032] First face 1 can be thermally coupled with battery 8 via fluidcirculating on the surface area of battery 8. In this case, thermalaction can be extended to not only the surroundings of battery 8 butalso details such as a heat-exchange path, so that heat-exchangeefficiency advantageously increases.

[0033] The thermal action accelerating medium of the temperatureregulator in accordance with the first embodiment is detailedhereinafter.

[0034] Thermal action accelerating medium 4 is made of fluid such asbrine or water. Since medium 4 is fluid, a path for thermal couplingbetween medium 4 and second face 2 can be arbitrarily designed, and thethermal coupling can be achieved with ease. As shown in FIG. 2, fluidmedium 4 circulates in circulating path 15, so that medium 4 can berecycled. Water, or brine in particular, is suitable for medium 4because of a heat-flow efficiency. Temperature regulating section 16 isprovided in circulating path 15, for instance, for regulating atemperature of medium 4, thereby further accelerating thermal action andenhancing temperature regulating capacity of thermoelectric transducer3.

[0035] A sub unit of the temperature regulator in accordance with thefirst embodiment is demonstrated hereinafter. As shown in FIG. 2, mainunit 18 includes transducer 3 and storage battery compartment 17 wherebattery 8 is placed, and sub unit 19 includes temperature regulatingsection 16. Regulating section 16 exchanges heat with the open air usingheat exchanger 16A and fan 16B. This structure saves a special thermalmedium for this heat exchange, and the heat can be forcibly andefficiently exchanged by fan 16B. Open air 22 can be taken inautomatically due to car's running and discharged via heat exchanger16A. However, when fan 16B is employed, the heat is exchanged within acar space closed to the outside, so that dust or exhaust gas does notenter advantageously into the car from the outside.

[0036] In sub unit 19, control board 31 is provided for regulating atemperature of battery 8. This structure allows control board 31 tocontrol the power fed to transducer 3 and the driving of fan 16B, basedon temperature information from sensor 32 detecting a temperature ofbattery 8, so as to maintain the temperature of battery 8 within apredetermined range. For this control, main unit 18 is coupled with subunit 19 via wiring 33 including a power feeding circuit (not shown) forfeeding and transmitting or receiving signals. As shown in FIG. 1,switch 35 is provided in the feeding circuit for transducer 3 in orderto change over an exciting polarity, and control board 31 controls thechange-over.

[0037] A placement of the main unit and the sub unit in the temperatureregulator in accordance with the first embodiment is describedhereinafter. As shown in FIG. 3, main unit 18 is disposed in a cabin 11Aof car 11, and sub unit 19 is disposed in trunk (or boot) 11B. Main unit18 is preferably disposed under seat 21, where dead space is available,and sub unit 19 is preferably disposed at an inner-up or an inner-downof the trunk so as not to block baggage from being loaded. Separation ofmain unit 18 from sub unit 19 allows both the units to share dead spacesavailable in car 11. Here is another way to place both the units; mainunit 18 is placed out of the way, and sub unit 19 is placed at a placeconvenient for in-taking and discharging open air. Both of the units canbe disposed in the cabin, one is placed under front seat 21 and theother is placed under rear seat 21. Both of the units can be disposed inthe trunk, and placed out of the way as well as at places convenient forin-taking and discharging open air.

[0038] A pump of the temperature regulator in accordance with the firstembodiment is demonstrated hereinafter. As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2,pump 23 forcibly circulates thermal-action accelerating medium 4 betweentemperature regulating section 16 and thermally-coupled section onsecond face 2. This structure allows transducer 3 and temperatureregulating section 16 to be placed at any place. In other words, boththe elements can be away from each other as far as possible, or placedin any positional relation. Pump 23, in particular, is placed at thethermally-coupled section on second face 2, and blades 23A are disposedin pump-room 24 where second face 2 is exposed as shown in FIG. 1. Thisstructure forcibly moves medium 4 on second face 2, thereby acceleratingheat-flow, thus the thermal action on face 2 is further accelerated,which further enhances the temperature regulating capacity on first face1 with respect to battery 8.

[0039] Blades 23A are rotatably supported by shaft 25, made of e.g.,stainless steel, of bearing 23C disposed at the center of intake port23B behind pump-room 24. Magnet 23E is buried in blades 23A, and stator26 disposed on an outer wall makes blade 23A spin. An opening of intakeport 23B is placed in intake room 27 added to case 12A. An opening ofoutlet port 23D projected from a part of the outer wall of pump room 24is placed in outlet room 28. Intake room 27, outlet room 28, intake port23B and outlet port 23D are connected to heat exchanger 16A oftemperature regulating section 16 and circular path 15 having a goingroute and a returning route. This structure allows medium 4, of whichtemperature has been regulated by regulating section 16, to be suppliedrepeatedly to the thermally coupled section on second face 2, therebyaccelerating thermal action of face 2.

[0040] Heat exchange in the sub unit of the temperature regulator inaccordance with the first embodiment is demonstrated hereinafter. When atemperature of medium 4 is regulated in heat exchanger 16A, the heat canbe exchanged with conditioned air or non-conditioned air. Theconditioned air in particular advantageously accelerates the thermalaction of second face 2 due to its conditioned characteristics. In thiscase, temperature regulating section 16 is preferably placed in coachroom 11A where the conditioned air is discharged. For instance, when ablowing path of the conditioned air is provided for temperatureregulating section 16, it is not needed to prepare a long path.

[0041] The temperature regulator of the storage batteries prolongs aservice life of the storage batteries mounted in various electric carsand hybrid cars. In the case of the hybrid car, the regulator increasesa ratio of battery-running vs. gasoline-running. If an air conditioneremploying a compressor driven by a motor is mounted in those cars, anumber of motor-driven items increases, which is good for theenvironment. When a car stops at an intersection, the engine is turnedoff for environmental protection, so that the air conditioner is alsoturned off automatically. However, employing a motor-driven compressorcan avoid this inconvenience.

[0042] Exemplary Embodiment 2

[0043] In the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, main unit 18 andsub unit 19 similar to those in the first embodiment illustrated in FIG.1 through FIG. 3 are placed in trunk 11B of car 11 at an inner right-endand an inner left-end respectively. These places hardly block baggagefrom being loaded. Since sub unit 19 is placed near to a side face ofthe car body, intake port 135 and discharging port 136 are provided onthe side face of car 11. Thus open air is taken into temperatureregulating section 16 and supplied to heat exchanger 16A for exchangingheat. This structure allows temperature regulating section 16 to usefresh open air and increase a regulating efficiency comparing with acase where the air in trunk 11B is repeatedly used.

[0044] Exemplary Embodiment 3

[0045] In the third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, storagebattery compartment 17, where storage batteries 8 are placed,thermoelectric transducer 3 and temperature regulating section 16 areintegrated into one unit, namely, temperature regulating unit 41. Thisstructure does not permit the distributed placement discussed in theprevious embodiments; however, it advantageously saves circular path 15and wiring 33 which connect between the units, because whole elementsare integrated into one unit. In addition, parts of the wall can beutilized, which lowers the cost. This structure is particularly suitablefor a car having a dead space that can accommodate unit 41. In FIG. 6,temperature regulating unit 41 is mounted in trunk 11B; however, it canbe mounted in cabin 11A.

[0046] Exemplary Embodiment 4

[0047] In the fourth embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, first face 1 ofthermoelectric transducer 3 is thermally coupled with storage battery 8via fluid thermal medium 42 flowing on the surfaces of these twoelements. Thermal medium 42 can be air, water, or brine similar tothermal action accelerating medium 4 demonstrated in the firstembodiment. Among them, brine is preferable in the consideration ofthermal efficiency. In the case of such a thermal-coupling using fluid,heat can be transferred even at details on the surfaces of battery 8, sothat an efficiency of heat-flow increases when battery 8 is cooled downor warmed up. Thus thermal medium 42 such as air or water can becirculated by fan 43 shown in FIG. 7 or a pump between case 12A andbattery 8, thereby further increasing the heat-flow efficiency betweenfirst face 1 and battery 8. In this case, thermal medium flowing path 44is preferably provided to battery 8 as shown in FIG. 7. Fin 1A ispreferably formed on first face 1 of thermoelectric transducer 3 becausefin 1A accelerates the heat flow to/from thermal medium 42. When battery8 includes a plurality of batteries, thermal medium flowing path 44 ispreferably disposed between the respective batteries.

[0048] In all the previous embodiments discussed above, a Peltierelement is used as a thermoelectric transducer. However, other elements,having the characteristics discussed previously, such as athermoelectric element including a thermoelectronic chip can be used asthe transducer. A use of one of those elements to regulate a temperatureof one or plural storage batteries is within a scope of the presentinvention.

[0049] In all the previous embodiments discussed above, the temperatureregulator of a storage battery mounted in an electric car or a hybridcar. The storage battery can be a lead-acid storage battery, a nickelcadmium battery, a nickel metal hybrid battery, or a lithium-ionbattery. The electric car and hybrid car comprise (a) a driving systemincluding a generator, an engine and a transmission and (b) a controlsystem including an inverter, a converter and ECU for driving thedrive-wheels. Those cars also include a steering system for controllinga running direction. These systems are mounted and integrated in thecar. The present invention, however, is not limited to the previousembodiments, and the temperature regulator is applicable to astand-alone storage battery, e.g., a power supply for load leveling andother kinds of power supplies such as a fuel battery where heat involvesproblems.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0050] In a temperature regulator of the present invention, athermoelectric transducer does two jobs contradictory to each other,i.e., its first face dissipates heat and its second face absorbs heat,responsive to a polarity in exciting the battery. Thus the battery and athermal action accelerating medium, both the elements being to bethermally coupled, are forcibly warmed up or cooled down. When apolarity is set for the first face to absorb heat, the first faceforcibly cools down the battery thermally coupled with the first face sothat a temperature of the battery does not exceed a predeterminedtemperature. The second face is accelerated to dissipate heat betweenthe second face and the thermal action accelerating medium that isthermally coupled with the second face, thereby increasing a coolingcapacity of the first face with respect to the battery. This structurecan cool down the battery more efficiently and sufficiently than aconventional air cooling method. The ratio of battery-running vs.gasoline-running of a hybrid car thus increases, and yet, a service lifeof the battery can be prolonged.

[0051] On the other hand, when the polarity is set for the first face todissipate heat, the temperature of the battery is regulated by forciblywarming up the battery so that the temperature will not fall lower thana predetermined temperature. The second face is accelerated to absorbheat between the second face and the thermal action accelerating medium,thereby increasing warming capacity of the first face with respect tothe battery. The battery is thus warmed up efficiently. Thus the thermalelectric transducer prevents the battery from degrading its performancein a low temperature environment and allows the battery to be keptusing.

[0052] The temperature regulator of the present invention isadvantageously applicable to an electric car and a hybrid car.

Reference Numerals in the Drawings

[0053]1. first face

[0054]2. second face

[0055]1A, 2A. fin

[0056]3. thermoelectric transducer

[0057]4. thermal action accelerating medium

[0058]5, 6. heat transferring plate

[0059]7. thermoelectric module

[0060]8, 8A, 8B. storage battery

[0061]11. car

[0062]11A. cabin

[0063]11B. trunk (boot)

[0064]12. housing

[0065]12A. case

[0066]12B. lid

[0067]12C. hinge

[0068]12D. handle

[0069]13. sealing member

[0070]14. metal plate

[0071]15. circular path

[0072]16. temperature regulating path

[0073]16A. heat exchanger

[0074]16B. fan

[0075]17. storage battery compartment

[0076]18. main unit

[0077]19. sub unit

[0078]21. seat

[0079]22. open air

[0080]23. pump

[0081]23A. blade

[0082]23B. intake port

[0083]23C. bearing

[0084]23D. outlet port

[0085]23E. magnet

[0086]24. pump room

[0087]25. shaft

[0088]26. stator

[0089]27. intake room

[0090]28. outlet room

[0091]31. control board

[0092]33. wiring

[0093]35. switch

[0094]41. temperature regulating unit

[0095]42. thermal medium

[0096]43. fan

[0097]44. thermal medium flowing path

1. A temperature regulator of a storage battery, said regulatorcomprising: a thermoelectric transducer including a first face and asecond face, both the faces doing two jobs contradictory to each other,i.e., heat dissipation and heat absorption, responsive to a polarity inexciting the storage battery; and a thermal action accelerating medium,wherein the first face is thermally coupled with the storage battery andthe second face is thermally coupled with said medium.
 2. Thetemperature regulator of claim 1, wherein said regulator is mounted in avehicle.
 3. The temperature regulator of claim 1 further comprising ahousing for covering the storage battery.
 4. The temperature regulatorof claim 3, wherein said housing is made of heat insulating material. 5.The temperature regulator of claim 1, wherein the first face is directlybrought into contact with the storage battery for making a thermalcoupling.
 6. The temperature regulator of claim 1, wherein the firstface is thermally coupled with the storage battery via a heat conductivemember disposed on a surface of the storage battery.
 7. The temperatureregulator of claim 1, wherein the first face is thermally coupled withthe storage battery via fluid circulating on a surface of the storagebattery.
 8. The temperature regulator of claim 1, wherein said thermalaction accelerating medium is fluid including one of brine and water. 9.The temperature regulator of claim 8 further comprising a temperatureregulating section for regulating a temperature of the fluid.
 10. Thetemperature regulator of claim 9 further comprising a pump for pumpingthe fluid forward, wherein the pump circulates the fluid between thetemperature regulating section and the second face.
 11. The temperatureregulator of claim 10, wherein the pump is disposed at athermally-coupled section on the second face, and a blade is disposed ina pump room where the second face is exposed.
 12. The temperatureregulator of claim 9, wherein the temperature regulating section doesheat-exchange between the fluid and air.
 13. The temperature regulatorof claim 9, wherein the thermoelectric transducer and the temperatureregulating section are integrated into a temperature regulating unit.14. The temperature regulator of claim 13, wherein the temperatureregulating unit is disposed in one of a cabin and a trunk of a vehicle.15. The temperature regulator of claim 9, wherein the thermoelectrictransducer and the temperature regulating section are included indifferent units respectively.
 16. The temperature regulator of claim 15,wherein a unit including the thermoelectric transducer and another unitincluding the temperature regulating section are disposed in a cabin anda trunk of a vehicle respectively.
 17. The temperature regulator ofclaim 15, wherein a unit including the thermoelectric transducer andanother unit including the temperature regulating section are disposedtogether in one of a cabin and a trunk of a vehicle.
 18. The temperatureregulator of claim 1, wherein the storage battery is one of lead-acidbattery, nickel cadmium battery, nickel zinc battery, nickel metalhydride battery, and lithium-ion battery.
 19. The temperature regulatorof claim 1 further comprising switch means for changing over anexcitation polarity of the thermoelectric transducer.
 20. A vehiclecomprising: a storage battery; a motor to be driven by said storagebattery; and a temperature regulator as defined in claim
 1. 21. Thevehicle of claim 20 further comprising an engine to be used with saidmotor.
 22. The vehicle of claim 20 further comprising an air conditioneremploying a compressor to be driven by said motor.